HTC ThunderBolt software update is scheduled to roll out starting tomorrow; May 3rd

With the upper hand of being Verizon’s very first 4G LTE smartphone, the HTC ThunderBolt has seemingly gotten plenty of face time thanks to its larger than life status, but as we’ve pointed out a couple days ago, Big Red is very close to sending out an OTA update for it.

Luckily, ThunderBolt owners can expect to see the software update being pushed out starting tomorrow, May 3rd. As we’ve mentioned previously, it’ll basically pack along enhancements for connectivity to Big Red’s 3G network when 4G LTE is unavailable. Additionally, we’ll see a host of other bug fixes and improvements that should make the prized handset even more stable. However, it still won’t fix its vociferous battery sipping appetite – meaning, you’ll still have to live with its atrocious battery life.

Nonetheless, it shouldn’t be long now before owners begin to see that notification pop up on their handsets – so be sure to check it out tomorrow.

UPDATE: It looks like the update didn't come through as expected. We'll keep you posted on its status.

2.edbdroid (unregistered)

3.cc (unregistered)

Despite the many recent posts regarding positive news in the Android world, i'm still amazed time and time again by the wording chosen by PA when discussing Android phones.

"However, it still won’t fix its vociferous battery sipping appetite – meaning, you’ll still have to live with its atrocious battery life."

Atrocious. Really guys? I have the thunderbolt and even with me leaving bluetooth and gps on all day, PLUS what I would consider moderate to heavy usage, I still am able to at least get through the majority of the day on one charge (although I do have it set to 3G only mode right now).

Yes, it does not have great battery life, probably not even "good" battery life. But it's only a little worse than my Droid X and to call it "atrocious" is a going a little overboard... But then again maybe that's why i'm not a writer for Phone Arena.

6.Recnamoruen (unregistered)

No, I just do tech support for verizon wireless, so I deal with people all day every day complaining about how heavy 4g usage on their phone causes the device to only last 3-4 hours. I'm glad your getting 5-6 but that is still terrible battery life. A device should not run out of battery life before a normal work day.

lol should last a whole work day with heavy use haha what phone u got a MOTO Z9 hahaha... i was getting the same battery life with the DX and that was only 3g and similar time with the D1. and u deal with ppl complaining because they are stupid and dont know how to set the phone up... the battery on the bolt is def not great but it is standard with what other company's are putting out with the same type of features

12.Rich (unregistered)

LOL 3 hours? Dude... im on 4G all day long at work with my TB and it gets way more than 3 hours. Maybe if i sit on words with friends and the internet for 3 hours straight itll die... but not from just being on 4G.

13.cc (unregistered)

No offense Rec but the fact that you work for VZW tech support and still obviously don't understand the issue scares the crap out of me, and validates why all of my friends call me for questions vs VZW.

The issue is NOT the 4g connection, it's the hand-off between 4g and 3g/1x. In some areas it appears to be worse than others which causes the difference in battery life results among users.

Also, simply by definition "heavy 4g usage" means downloading lots of movies/songs/apps whatever, which means they are ACTIVELY using the phone with the screen on for that time (most likely). That explains 3-5 hours of battery life...

So, back to what I was saying... the Thunderbolt DOES NOT have "atrocious" battery life. As of right now it has been 6hours 14minutes and 5seconds since I unplugged the phone this morning and I have about 70% left. That is with several phone calls and quite a few emails/texts... plus I leave bluetooth and GPS on all day.

That is also with 4g turned off, which would lead anyone to believe the issue is not the phone but either the 4g network or the way the Thunderbolt handles the 4g network (going back to my comment about the hand off between 4g and 3g/1x being the actual issue).

18.Recnamoruen (unregistered)

You just said that is with the 4g being turned off, and as I've said twice now, the 4g radio is the reason the phone has such bad battery life. Turn that 4g on and watch the phone goto town on that battery.

9.daswe (unregistered)

10.Mithrandir (unregistered)

The Thunderbolt battery life is awful, I do own one. I nearly always have my phone in 3G mode and even then with moderate usage I found that my batter went from full to 70% in less than in hour. I have to keep it plugged in all the time.......there has to be some sort of firmware fix for this since many other phone can last much longer. I even unplugged my gf's thunderbolt just before bed (so I could plug mine in), it was full charged and I thought it was turned off (it was in 3G mode the whole time) and by morning the phone was dead, apparently it was still on, in 3G mode with absolutely no usage and it died in a matter of 8 hours, sad. Can we get a fix please this is unacceptable.

11.LlamaJockey (unregistered)

I've had the Thunderbolt for 3 days..and while the battery life isn't fantastic, and the stock battery is very pathetic for the device, I haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary for a 4G phone. It's a price you pay for the speed; I'm averaging 12mbps down in DFW.
In some areas, the Thunderbolt has trouble getting a good 3G signal- which is what this update will likely address. That little fact actually drains the battery more. So it's very plausible that this update WILL help battery life. The first day I had it, running 4G all day, it lasted 10-12 hours before getting down to 20% with heavier than normal use. I ran 15 hours yesterday on the stock battery, and it only got down to 45% using alternate combination of 4G/Wifi. I am running JuiceDefender ultimate though. For moderate users like me that app seems to add a lot of benefit if you customize it properly. If you're using the thunderbolt heavily, I doubt the app will work as well.

14.Wolfie (unregistered)

I understand the complaint about battery life, sort of. Is this not the same problem we have with a 17" screen laptop? The same computer with 15" last 1.5-2hrs longer. Apply that to cell. You want features or performance? Don't say both because there will always be a compromise. ALWAYS. Unplugged at 5am and plugged in at 5pm. I could care less if its at 10%, its not dead. Maybe those of you who have no job, text your girlfriends all day long while downloading porn/videos and power use for 6 hrs+ should get a career in the works. I heard the same complaint before I got my DX. I got 24hrs on my X and thats alot of phone calls and internet usage. Just my .02

Both. What good are the features of a device if it doesnt have the batterylife to back it up. The battery on my thunderbolt drained 46 % on standby. with the data also in the standby mode so it only worked if I was on line, and I wasnt. Most people dont carry a laptop around with them unless there a student or its used in there job. Most people do however carry a cell phone, and what good is one that has such poor battery life. A person would have to carry around extra charged batteries just to get a full days use out of it. I returned my thunderbolt and went back to my dx. My dx will get 1.5 days on a standard battery and 2.5 with a extended. Oh and by the way I do have a job.

I had the thunderbolt I charged it fully after letting the battery drain of the factory charge. It took several hours to charge. I was at work so I didnt use much at all made a phonecall on my dinner break. When I left work the battery was at 56 % Shut it off when I got home booted it up the next morning and the battery was at 25%. I dont care how good a phone is, and I was impressed with what the phone can do but if it doesnt have the power supply to back it up what it can do is irrelivent. I returned it the day after I got it.

23.Eddie (unregistered)

24.Mark (unregistered)

Verizon seems at this point to be covering up something big. Either there is something very wrong with the network or with the thunderbolt handset and probably both. The many delays of its release without any explanation and the programs that can't run on the phone like "My Verizon" and official Skype release, Swype, MSNBC... Not to mention the messed up battery and power button. Verizon did a miserable job of launching this device with lousy bloatware and without value adding apps. Thank god I only signed on for one year!

25.You not Me (unregistered)

26.nyktrex (unregistered)

27.jman451 (unregistered)

What everyone complaining about. I'm on it for hours at a time downloading and playing game even searching the internet and my battery will after 2 hour be at 70%. Ur either doing something wrong or have it set up to sync more often or what not. All I want to know is when will I get the breaking update. It's June already and still nothing. My phones major issue and only issue is the random restarts. Infact I'm down right pissed about it. I won't even be using it sometimes and it will just restart all the sudden and with htcs bull s**t the phone takes a few minutes to start up. Wtf.

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